A 2021 auction in Milan saw an immaterial sculpture titled Io sono sell for £12,000, bringing international attention to the conceptual practices of Salvatore Garau. This work, consisting of nothing at all, challenged traditional definitions of physical art objects and highlighted the artist's focus on the void, a recurring theme in his diverse body of creative production.
Early Career and Education
Born in 1953 in Santa Giusta, Italy, Garau pursued formal artistic training at the Academy of Fine Arts, Florence, graduating in 1974. His early creative output spanned various mediums beyond the canvas. Between 1977 and the group's dissolution, he served as the drummer for the progressive rock band Stormy Six. This musical background eventually transitioned into a full-time pursuit of visual arts and painting.
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Garau launched his professional career with his inaugural solo exhibition in 1984. By 2003, his trajectory included participation in the 50th Biennale di Venezia and a show at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. His large-scale projects often intersect with urban environments; in 2005, he covered building scaffolding on Corso Magenta in Milan with a 200 m2 abstract painting on PVC. His 2006 installation, Ichthys Sacro Stagno, utilized three church floors in Oristano as flooded habitats for fish collected from local ponds, reflecting his ongoing interest in environmentalism and hydrology.
Institutional Recognition
The artist has received various accolades, including the 1989 Premio Michetti. His creative reach extends to major European institutions, with a 2009 solo show held at the Musée d'art moderne et contemporain in Saint-Etienne, France. His works are preserved in several notable collections, such as the Museo del Novecento, the Museo d'Arte Moderna di Bologna, and the Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea in Milan. Throughout his career, he has maintained a workspace presence in international hubs including New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Milan, and Porto Cervo.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Santa Giusta, Italy
- Education: Academy of Fine Arts, Florence
- Primary Occupations: Painter, sculptor, visual artist
- Musical Tenure: Drummer for Stormy Six (1977)
- Notable Works: Io sono, Contatto, Ichthys Sacro Stagno
- Award: Premio Michetti (1989)
- Significant Sale: Io sono (£12,000, 2021)
Questions readers ask
What movements have influenced Garau's work?
His career encompasses elements of Romanticism, Postmodernism, pop art, Minimalism, conceptual art, and Neo-romanticism.
What is the significance of the work titled Io sono?
Known as an immaterial sculpture, this conceptual piece was sold at auction in 2021 for £12,000, excluding commission and expenses.
Achievements
- Notable work: Contatto (Garau)
- Notable work: Sculpture throwing-Fireflies-rainfall signals
- Notable work: Condotta
- Notable work: I am
- Movement: Postmodernism and pop art
